Mark Alan Wade

Thursday 2-9-2023

Class #2I 2:30 – 3:45 HD Advance

An Irish Hymn: “Be Thou My Vision”

Many dulcimer players know this hymn for its beautiful melody and play it in traditional American style. However, the lyrics in Gaelic date back to the 10th or 11th century Ireland and the melody itself is a traditional Irish tune. I’ll show you easy ways to return this hymn to its original style with a few easy embellishments in an easy-to-learn arrangement.

Friday 2-10-2023

Class #3H 9:00 – 10:15 HD Intermediate

A Third Way There

The easiest and most beautiful way to harmonize a melody is by [laying in thirds. Mark will show you how to make your hands cooperate with you as you learn a fun and happy ear worm of a tune! You’ll be harmonizing all of your melodies in no time!

Class #4I 10:30 – 11:45 HD Advance

Hammered Vivaldi

The second Largo movement of the Concerto for Lute, by Antonio Vivaldi, is absolutely perfect for the hammered dulcimer! I have played this as a soloist with orchestras more often than I can count. If you are not fluent in Baroque performance practices, no worries! I will share my ornamentation and the best hammer patterns on the dulcimer for you, so you can focus on making music!

Class #5G 1:00 – 2:15 HD Beginner

Right from the Start!

For the most part, the dulcimer is a free instrument without rules and other nonsense that constipates learning other instruments. But there are a few bad habits that will seriously hold your playing back. Mark will show you how to avoid these pitfalls and how to start off right using tunes as examples!

Class #6I 2:30 – 3:45 HD Advance

Fantasy on “Joyful, Joyful!”

This hymn tune is the perfect way to explore creating a set of variations woven together into a fantasy. We will take the melody on a journey from birth through childhood to teenage years, to death – ok – maybe not until death! But everywhere in between! Learning how to make a tune grow and develop is a crucial skill in arranging and THIS tune makes it fun!

Saturday 2-11-2023

Class #8E 9:00 – 10:15 MD Intermediate

Pull-Offs with the “Calliope House”

This fun Irish jig is the perfect way to get better at your pull-off technique without even realizing you are practicing them! Pull-offs are a must-have skill on any fretted instrument, but many songs that need the technique are only for advanced players. In THIS workshop, we’ll have fun incorporating them easily into this happy jig and you’ll be ready for the advanced pull-offs in no time!

Class #9G 10:30 – 11:45 HD Beginner

The Easy 15 Minute Practice Routine

Beginners struggle to know WHAT and HOW to practice………… This workshop will take the guesswork out for you as Mark shares his tried and true 15 Minute a Day practice routine. Mark makes learning fun and engaging and this will give much needed direction to your practice sessions.

Class #11H 2:30 – 3:45 HD Intermediate

Are You Going to Scarborough Fair!

This Renaissance song is a must-learn tune on the dulcimer. In this class, we will learn the tune and what comes next. Mark will show WHAT the chords should be and HOW to play them with the melody. You’ll be ready for the Re. Fair in no Thyme!